Nearly 25,000 out-of-school and learning-lagged children who had dropped out during the Covid-19 pandemic have returned to mainstream primary education through BRAC’s Returning to Learning project, which provided accelerated learning in 1,005 one-room schools.
The project’s final evaluation findings were shared at a concluding session on May 12, 2025, at the BRAC Centre, bringing together key stakeholders to reflect on achievements and discuss the way forward.
According to the project’s final assessment, 99.1 per cent of students who completed the accelerated course were re-enrolled in nearby government and non-government primary schools and madrassahs.
Implemented between January 2022 and December 2024 with support from the Hempel Foundation, the Returning to Learning project focused on reintegrating out-of-school children from marginalised communities in Kurigram, Rangpur, and Lalmonirhat districts.
Masud Akter Khan, additional secretary, Ministry of Primary and Mass Education (, attended the event as the chief guest. Mirajul Islam Ukil, director (planning and development), Directorate of Primary Education was present at the programme as the special guest.
The opening remarks were delivered by Safi Rahman Khan, director of BRAC’s Education, Skills Development and Migration Programme.
Zia Uddin Ahmed, assistant director, Bureau of Non-Formal Education; Mohammad Zia ul Haque Sikder, education officer (planning and development), Directorate of Primary Education; and Rosie Williams, foundations officer at BRAC Europe, were also present at the event.
According to the assessment, in Kurigram district, the primary school dropout rate fell from 23.6 per cent in 2020 to 14.16 per cent in 2023, coming close to the national average of 13.15 per cent. The evaluation also revealed significant improvements in students’ performance in Bangla, English, and Mathematics.
Chief guest Masud Akter Khan noted that while efforts to advance girls’ education have rightly been prioritised over the years, it is now equally important to focus on boys’ education. He emphasised that the most pressing challenge going forward is to ensure the quality of education for all.
